Epicacti Seed Growing
| A thought...
Seaweed on dry land
- ever thought the epicacti
could be considered as from
this perspective? - look again...
|
How to grow epie seeds.
(There are a number of methods - this is one of them)
1) I store my seed on paper. When the seed is fresh they are enclosed in a jelly like bag. By putting the seed on the paper the jelly (jello? US?) like bag dries up and this causes the seed to adhere to the paper. When ready to plant the seed, put the paper and seeds in water and rehydrate the jelly so the seeds now look like frogs eggs.
Point to note. The fresh seed (and the fruit pulp) can be put straight on the potting mix and the pulp will go mouldy but eventually disappear.
I haven't had any problem with rot at this stage.
2) Place on potting mix surface and DO NOT cover with any soil or potting mix, as this inhibits germination.
3) Keep in a warm, well lit area.
4) Seeds and seedlings seem to enjoy a warm, damp/wet environment and acid soil more than alkali.
5) Seedlings initially look like little cacti, with soft small spines and sometimes up to 6 or so surfaces on the stem.
6) You will need to pot the plants up and use fertilizer on them (usually liquid feed at time of watering)
7) Seedlings eventually put out "mature" looking stems usually on top of the juvenile stem. This can start after 2 years - but sometimes takes longer. I have, with one cross had adult stems after 6 months
8) Earliest flowering seems to be 3-4 year old seedlings (possibly sooner) but often it is longer.
Further note. Repot seedlings as they get largers, to give it more room to grow.
Enjoy the transformation the plant undergoes from juvenile to adult form, then the anticipation of flowering.
seedling
Tip of stem
cotyledons
changing form